Vang Vieng

Surrounded by scenic karst topography, this small town about 70km north of Phon Hong (160km north of Vientiane) via Route 13 nestles in a bend in the Nam Song river. Caverns and tunnels in the limestone are said to be inhabited by spirits.

The most famous of the Vang Vieng caves is Tham Jang, a large cavern that was used as a bunker in defence against marauding Chinese Ho (Jiin Haw) in the early 19th century. To find these caves, ask an angler or boatman along the river to show you the way - most will be glad to guide you to two or three caves for a few hundred kip. The section of the river where most of the caves are found is within walking distance (about 2km south-west) of the town centre. You can buy a sketch map to some of the caves from small restaurants near the market for a few hundred kip. Even if you don't plan on any cave exploration, a walk along the river can be rewarding.

Other than the Chinese-built cement factory just outside of town and a little-used airstrip between Route 13 and the town, Vang Vieng is well removed from modernisation.

The annual monsoon cycle gives Laos two distinct seasons: May to October is wet and November to April is dry.Southern Laos gets the most rain overall; the peaks of the Annamite Chain receive the heaviest rainfall, over 3000mmi annually.The provinces of Luang Prabang, Sainyabuli and Xieng Khuang usually receive only 1000 to 1500mm a year. Vientiane and Savannalchet get about 1500 to 2000mm, as do Phongsali, Luang Nam Tha and Bokeo.In the Mekong River valley (from Bokeo Province to Champasak Province) the highest temperatures (up to 38ºC) occur March/April and the lowest are in December/ January (as low as 15ºC).

In the mountains of Xieng Khuang December/January nights can easily fall to OºC. In mountainous provinces of lesser elevation, temperatures may be a few degrees higher. During most of the rainy season, daytime averages are about 29ºC in the lowlands and around 25ºC in mountain valleys.